Holly Holm nearing UFC deal, plotting eventual Ronda Rousey showdown

Holly Holm’s manager is optimistic the fighter will be in the UFC, but the sides must narrow a financial gap to sign a deal.

Lenny Fresquez today told MMAjunkie that his principal concern is getting Holm (6-0) paid for fighting women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey after building her as a contender.

“This is a superfight,” he said. “This is the biggest women’s fight in the history of any type of women’s [combat] sports. It’s a lot of money involved in this payday. I just want to make sure Holly gets her share.”

Fresquez said he met Saturday with UFC executives Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White and Sean Shelby at Dallas’ American Airlines Center following this past Saturday’s UFC 171. Holm did not attend the meeting, he said, because direct negotiations are relatively young.

Although he described the meeting as “positive,” Fresquez said there are several deal points to hammer out before there is an agreement to bring Holm into the octagon.

“Offers went back and forth,” he said. “We already had guidelines of what we were going to agree on and what we weren’t going to agree on. We’re still a little ways (apart) and there’s still a couple of items. We’re very excited about getting Holly into the UFC. It’s just my job to put Holly in the right hands.”

In the meantime, Holm is scheduled to fight Juliana Werner in the headliner of Legacy FC 30, which takes place April 4 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a boxer, kickboxer and MMA fighter, Holm has fought in several bouts promoted by Fresquez, including an MMA bout this past December that saw her go to the scorecards for the first time in six pro bouts.

The manager said Holm has two fights remaining with the the Texas-based Legacy FC, and while she will fulfill her next bout, her contract contains an out clause should a deal materialize with the UFC. If the sides can’t agree on terms, however, he expects Holm to finish out her contract with the Texas-based promotion in June.

Holm’s success in Albuquerque presents a benchmark for what Frequez expects in compensation from the UFC.

“She’s got to make at least what she makes here, and we’re close on that,” said Fresquez. “The thing is making sure we get paid for Ronda. We’ve gotta get paid to fight Ronda.”

Currently, Rousey’s next challenger is not set. While Cat Zingano is expected fulfill the No. 1 contender spot she earned this past April before becoming injured, the UFC isn’t rushing to confirm the bout despite her recent statement that she could fight in June.

The delay could stem from rumored negotiations with another women’s MMA star, Gina Carano. Fresquez said UFC execs confirmed that Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino remain potential opponents for Rousey.

“I asked them, ‘Who’s Ronda going to fight?'” Fresquez explained. “They said, ‘She could fight ‘Cyborg’ or fight Gina Carano.’ Those were the couple of other options that they were looking at. But I also know ‘Cyborg’ can’t make 135 pounds, and Gina can’t make 135 pounds, so I know those fights can’t be made for the UFC title.”

Naturally, Fresquez believes Holm is the best challenge for Rousey and could benefit from the UFC’s publicity “machine.” But he isn’t ready to sign any deal.

“We have always planned every move Holly has made for 10 years precisely and with precision,” he said. “The UFC is a little bit different monster for me, because I know when I hand her over to them, they kind of take control.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.